One arrested, two sought in Winter Haven robbery

Winter Haven police officers have arrested one man involved in an armed robbery on Friday afternoon but are still looking for two suspects in the case.

Deontae Neal, 21, of Winter Haven, was arrested and charged with armed robbery, armed burglary, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and resisting arrest without violence, police said. He was booked into the Polk County Jail.

Suspect Jamario Harvey approached the victim outside his Winter Haven home at about 1:20 p.m. and asked him if he’d like to gamble, police said. The victim and Harvey went across the street to a vacant home and began gambling, police said.

A vehicle carrying Neal and being driven by Carlos Leondre, 24, of Winter Haven, parked across the street from the vacant home. Neal got out of the car and approached Harvey and the victim, police said.

Neal turned around as though he was walking away, but then he turned around and placed a gun to the victim’s head, police said. Neal demanded money. The victim raised his hands in the air, and Neal went through his pockets taking his cash, identification card and cell phone, police said.

The victim then safely ran from the scene, police said. He called police who searched the area and found a vehicle that matched the one Neal was last seen in, police said.

Officers pulled the car over, but Neal and the driver ran from the scene.

Police officers chased after Neal and were able to arrest him after finding him hiding in a nearby shed. Money and a cell phone were located under a bucket in the shed. A gun was located on the roof of the shed, police said. The victim’s identification was found inside the vehicle that Neal was traveling in.

The driver of the vehicle was not found, police said.

Anyone with information on Harvey and Leondre is asked to call Sgt. Mitch Meadows at (863) 401-2256.